How to change your name by Deed Poll

The aim of this site is to provide detailed information on all aspects of
name change by Deed Poll.

In the UK a Deed Poll (also referred to as a 'change of name deed' or more formally a 'deed of change of name') is a legal document that enables a person to formally change their name.

A Deed Poll acts in much the same way as a Marriage Certificate, Civil Partnership Certificate or Decree Absolute in that
it acts as documentary evidence enabling a person to get their official records
updated to show their new name. Without a Deed Poll or other similar form of documentary evidence government
departments, companies and organisations will rarely recognise a change of name.

A Deed Poll allows a person to change any part of their name. For example they may choose to change just a forename or
a surname, just change the spelling of one of their names, or they may decide
to change both their forenames and their surname.

Once a Deed Poll is drafted it needs to be executed before it effective and can be used as documentary evidence of a
change of name. Executing a Deed Poll simply means signing it in the presence of a witness
(the witness is also required to sign the Deed Poll). By executing a Deed Poll
that person is committing themselves to renounce and abandon the use of their
former name, to use their new name at all times and to require everyone to
address them only by their new name.

As soon as a Deed Poll has been executed it enables that person to use it to get all their records amended
including their passport, driving license and bank details. All government
departments, organisations, and companies are required to be informed of the
name change so that they can update their records accordingly.

Once you have used your Deed Poll to get all of your records amended it is a good idea to keep it safe with your
birth certificate so you can produce them together if you are required to show
how the name you are using is different from your birth name.

With more people investigating their family trees
tracing name changes by Deed
Poll that have happened in the past is on the rise.

Time Saving Tip:
The quickest and easiest way to change your name in the UK is to